HOW TO FIND A HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHER

Having your headshots taken is one of the most important things that you will do if you are a performer. Your headshot is often times the first thing that a potential client will see. There are times when your headshot is the only thing a casting agent will see and may hire you directly from it and your resume. The fact is that most casting agents look at the headshots of talent before deciding whom to bring in for an actual audition. For this reason alone you want to be sure that you are working with a photographer who will help you get the best headshot that your money can buy.

Speaking of money, a headshot is one of the biggest considerations depending on where you are financially. If you have $1,000 you can get a great photographer who will do a wonderful job. However, you may be able to get just as good a headshot from a good photographer that charges $150. The flipside of this is also true. The photographer could charge $1,000 and the pictures could be horrible. The lesson to learn here is that the cost alone will not determine what the final product will be and that you need to put a little more into the search for the right photographer.

The best way to get a good photographer is by referral or seeing the photographer’s work for yourself. If you have friends in the industry or an agent that you trust, ask them who they would recommend for headshots. If you are at an audition or on a shoot and you notice someone has a particularly nice headshot, ask who did it and if they would give you a number to reach the photographer. Most talent will be much more forthcoming with information about a photographer than they might be about an agent or client. Of course, you can look in trade publications or your local phone directory as well.

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